February 2018

THE PURPLE CIRCLE symbolizes the upper echelon in the show arena. Attention is focused on producers and show persons of championship cattle, hogs, sheep and goats: hence the "Purple" in our title. The "Circle" in our title proclaims the unity and solidarity that livestock people share as we aim for excellence in our enterprises.

"Livestock people" encompass a broad spectrum of ages. Parents and children, leaders and youth, experienced and inexperienced assume a purpose and a role in selecting, caring for, and showing livestock. In the era of everyone "doing his or her own thing" the 4-H, FFA and open class show arena are some of the last bastions of family solidarity. We are confident that The Purple Circle will exert a positive influence in strengthening the family circle.

The Purple Circle will serve as a showcase and a public arena from which people from coast to coast can acknowledge winners from other areas of the country. The Purple Circle will attend national and regional livestock shows, state fairs and other shows as time permits, striving to keep you informed of news and trends in show circuits and helping you to become better acquainted with your colleagues in the livestock realm.

We welcome comments and suggestions from our readers and strive for excellence and the distinction of being in the "purple circle" of livestock publications and educational tools.

PURPLE CIRCLE is the Official Publication for JMGSC

The organization OF the youth, BY the youth and FOR the youth!

Jadyn Lingo

Hello, my name is Jadyn Lingo. I am a senior at El Reno High School where I am Vice President of Student Council, Secretary of my FFA Chapter, and an active member of numerous other clubs and organizations. I have been admitted to Southern Nazarene University (SNU) in Bethany, Oklahoma, where I look forward to obtaining a bachelors degree in nursing with a minor in agriculture business.

Family is my everything and, at only 20 miles from El Reno, SNU will allow me to maintain active involvement with my family and our farm. I am extremely blessed to be part of a close-knit family who enjoys spending time together, so the proximity of SNU to home is perfect. When things don’t go as planned, my family is always there to show me the love and support I need to get through difficult situations.

While my family includes my dad, Jerry; my mom, Julie; and my older sister, Jordan; I must admit I am a Daddy’s girl, and my dad is my hero. Everything I know about living and working on a farm has been learned through my dad’s patient teachings; from how to know if a calf on wheat pasture is sick and needs a shot to driving a tractor. He has raised me to be a hard worker, loyal, and always be grateful. He is, literally, the hardest working person I know and I pray someday I’ll be known for the quality of my own work ethic as my dad is his.

My mom is my absolute best friend. We don’t always see eye-to-eye, but it’s because she pushes me to be the best I can be, holds me to a high standard, and keeps me focused on my goals. She is my role model and lives all of the values and characteristics of the person I strive to be. She has dedicated her life to raising my sister and me, and being a constant anchor for our family. She’s always the first to extend a helping hand to anyone in need, and I can’t remember a time she’s ever missed an activity I or my sister have been involved in. She is the cement that holds the bricks of our family together.